Rare French-made sportscars commissioned by Patrick Veyrat

Rare ONES After talking about many cars so far across time, the story todays will begin with the dream sports car specially made for Patrick Veyrat whose initially collaborated with ARC (Ateliers-Recherche-Création), a Dijon, French based racing car manufacturer founded by Michel Faure. From what we have observed, ranging from the car' name to the maker, it is likely that this French-made sports car of the 1990s is included one of the rare and not widely known by the public.

The ARC Narval Concept is powered by a mid-rear mounted Gordini 1,300 cc (135 hp) engine. (Picture from: AllCarIndex)

As quoted of Rare French Sports Car, the first figure is Patrick Veyrat who is known as a creative thinker and funder for the creation of reliable sports cars. He is also very famous as a reliable driver of many Ferrari cars in the past, which then made him obsessed with creating cars like the Ferrari 348 specifically intended for those with high financial capabilities. As self-aware that he does not have the ability and knowledge about engines and design of four-wheeled vehicles, and for this reason he feels need help from ARC to make real his dream car. 

The ARC Narval Concept designed by Michel Faure, and had built in co-operation with Jacques Durand (JIDE). (Picture from: Wikipedia)

On the other hand, as the company principal, Michel Faure was a professional engineer. Which in its early development, the automotive company based in Dijon, France, is known to have started its work as a racing car maker which all started in Michel Faure at young-ages when he built as a project a single seat mid-engined road car around certain race-car principals back in 1960s to 1970s.

The ARC Narval Concept is named after the sword billed whale known as Narwhal in English. (Picture from: Classic and Recreation Sportscar)

This car indeed sets the pattern for many of the sports racing cars to follow. It was called the ARC Narval, named after the sword billed whale known as Narwhal in English. As quoted of Wikipedia, this ARC Narval prototype had built in co-operation with Jacques Durand (JIDE) and is powered by a mid-rear mounted Gordini 1,300 cc (135 hp) engine.

The ARC Narval Concept sets as the pattern for many of the sports racing cars to follow. (Picture from: AllCarIndex)

At the time, as a compact team, they seem to have everything ranging from money, vision, knowledge to talent. However, in fact the partnership broke up due to differences in direction, after completing the first two cars. In short, the cooperation is known to have resulted in two targa sports cars named the Veyrat 630 that were launched at the 1990 Paris Car Show.

Michel Faure at young-ages posed along with the ARC Narval Concept's wooden bucks. (Picture from: AllCarIndex)

And from the pictures, one of the cars is powered by a PRV (Peugeot-Renault-Volvo) V6 engine. While the red ones was in fact a non-runner model and was then sold to an individual who completed it according to their own specifications.

One of two the Veyrat 630 prototypes commissioned by Patrcick Veyrat to ARC powered by a PRV V6 engine, and were launched at the 1990 Paris Car Show. (Picture from: FrenchAutoMuseum)

Not for long, Veyrat found new partner, Karfex that had experience with single seaters, sports racing cars of JDR and Alfa cup racers. This new models were heavier than the Faure's lightweight version, but by production car standards were still very light for their size and yet they possessed what appear to be rather sturdy chassis that made use of some specialised oval section tubing.

This Veyrat 630 prototype originally a non-runner model and was then sold to an individual who completed it according to their own specifications. (Picture from: AllCarIndex)

Meanwhile, the Veyrat car made by Karfex known also as the Opio 630 was very similar in style to those two ARC prototypes, but noticeably had smoother curves than the ARC version, with sharper lines and harder curves. While the engines for these were now the 3 liter SOHC V6 of Alfa Romeo coupled with its 5-speed transaxle sporting few modifications save for a special exhaust system. 

The Veyrat 630 production version or the Opio 630 by Karfex powered by a 3 liter SOHC V6 of Alfa Romeo coupled with 5-speed transaxle, and few modifications save for a special exhaust system. (Picture from: RareFrenchSportscars)

These units produced similar power to the 2.5 litre PRV V6 turbo engine and 39 bhp more than the 3 liter non-turbo ones. However, as mentioned above they were about 30 kg heavier all up with their transverse transaxle, but more compact for mid-engine packaging.

The Veyrat 630 as the ARC further version named ARC Ellipse taken by Michel Faure down its original design. (Picture from: FrenchAutoMuseum)

In the mean time, back at the ARC cars, in which Faure takes the car version down its original route, and now powered by a 24-valve DOHC V6 drivetrain of the Alfa Romeo Quadrifoglio model with more over power of 40 bhp than the SOHC version.

The Veyrat 630 as the ARC further version named ARC Ellipse taken by Michel Faure down its original design. (Picture from: FrenchAutoMuseum)

Furthermore now the sports car called the ARC Ellipse, just how many were sold is open to question. Until now, not many would be a fair answer, while in later versions were shown too, but we're not sure if any were completed.

The ARC Ellipse is powered by a 24-valve DOHC V6 drivetrain of the Alfa Romeo Quadrifoglio model. (Picture from: FrenchAutoMuseum)

As we quoted from the French Motor Museum, during 1990 to 2000 sports cars specially built under commissioned of Patrick Veyrat, only 4 units, consisting of 2 units of Veyrat 630 Prototype, each 1 unit of Opio 630 and ARC Ellipse. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | RAREFRENCHSPORTSCARS | FRENCH MOTOR MUSEUM ]

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